REGISTERED AND UN‐REGISTERED GEOMATICS PRACTITIONERS
(Geomatics is a term covering the domains of Surveying and GISc)
This circular is relevant to any person that engages Surveyors and GISc practitioners.
EXPLANATION ON REGISTERED SURVEYOR CATEGORIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
The South African Geomatics Institute (SAGI), is consistently informing other professionals and State entities about the distinction between registered and unregistered surveyors.
This drive is as a result of an alarming trend where State funds are being wasted and service delivery delayed, due to faulty survey work being carried out by unregistered surveyors.
Increasingly, clients are asking SAGI members, and non-Institute members (but registered with SAGC) to fix the mistakes of unregistered surveyors who are not accountable to any organisation.
SOUTH AFRICAN GEOMATICS COUNCIL ‐ SAGC
Surveyors are governed under the Geomatics Profession Act No.19 of 2013 with the South African Geomatics Council (SAGC). As a Statutory Council, SAGC has four broad categories of registration.
Each registration category has certain sub-specialisations such as Land Surveying, Engineering Surveying or GIS for example.
The registration categories with their sub-specialisations are as follows:
- Professional Surveyors (Land (Cadastral), Engineering, GIS, Photogrammetry, Mining and Hydrographic)
- Technologist (Engineering, GIS, Photogrammetry, Mining and Mine Certificated)
- Technicians (Engineering, GIS, Photogrammetry and Mining)
- In Training (Students)
It is important to note that, by law, when dealing with matters relating to property boundaries or property beacons, only a Professional Land Surveyor can advise on or undertake such work. Land Surveyors also undertake engineering and other related survey work. It is a criminal offense for any other person to perform property related work.
People in training are only permitted to work under the control and direction of a Professional Surveyor or a Survey Technologist.
By contrast, unregistered surveyors are people who either have little or no academic training in surveying and are therefore not eligible for registration, or do not want to subject themselves to the legislated code of conduct and disciplinary processes and so choose not to register with the Statutory Survey Council – SAGC.
GENERAL PUBLIC NOTICE: DISTINCTION BETWEEN REGISTERED AND UN‐REGISTERED GEOMATICS PRACTITIONERS
The details of all registered surveyors are available on the SAGC website – www.sagc.org.za
Clients should take cognisance of the categories of surveyors when appointing a surveyor to undertake a task.
If clients are unsure about the registration status of a surveyor, they are perfectly entitled to consult the SAGC website or simply ask the surveyor for current proof of registration in the form of aletter of good standing from SAGC.
Indeed, it would be prudent when calling for quotes or tenders to insist on the following documents as part of the tender document:
- Proof of registration with SAGC – in the form of a letter of current good standing,
- Proof of current Professional Indemnity cover.
Tender Documents should also state the required category of persons required as well as the work specialization area.
SOUTH AFRICAN GEOMATICS INSTITUTE ‐ SAGI
SAGI is a voluntary organisation of Surveyors which focuses on business aspects of the survey industry. SAGI’s main purpose is to promote excellence and reliability in the survey profession, address matters of concern to surveyors and to facilitate peer discipline in order to maintain high standards.
SAGI represents approximately 67% of all Technologists and Professionals in survey in the private sector and 76% of all private sector Land Surveyors with a geographical spread across the country and some neighbouring countries. Membership of SAGI is restricted to those who are registered with SAGC.
SAGI lists Professional and Technologists members on the SAGI “Find a Surveyor” page (www.sagi.co.za). In addition, the listing also allows a user to geographically view a list of surveyors in an area (Province / Town) of interest.
SAGI keeps its members informed on Legislation Changes, court rulings, advances in technology and industry trends. Professional firms and the public, who make use of surveying services, should feel confident of receiving the right guidance and a high‐quality product when dealing with a registered person.
State Departments and other professional firms are most welcome to place their tenders or survey requirements with our institute secretariat for notification to members, either as a group, regionally or even locally.
In conclusion, SAGI encourages all State Departments and professional firms which require survey services for developmental projects to ensure that the survey firms which they appoint are members in good standing with SAGC.
For more details or information on the support which SAGI can offer your organisation, please contact our Administration Officer.
CONTACT DETAILS
See www.sagi.co.za or email admin.officer@sagi.co.za
Issued: March 2019
